Far-right NATO critic seen winning Romanian presidential runoff vote

BUCHAREST, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Romanians vote in a presidential election runoff on Sunday that could see Calin Georgescu, a far-right critic of NATO, defeat pro-European centrist Elena Lasconi, an outcome that might isolate Romania in the West and erode its support for Ukraine.

The vote is the last of three consecutive ballots for both a new parliament and president in the European Union and NATO member state in which the far right has surged amid deepening distrust in state institutions after multiple economic crises and Russia's full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

Polling stations will open at 0500 GMT and close at 1900 GMT, with exit polls on the result to follow quickly.

Georgescu, 62, a self-styled outsider who considers Russian President Vladimir Putin a true leader and patriot, stunned the Romanian mainstream and European allies when he emerged from relative obscurity as the winner of the Nov. 24 first round.


https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/far-right-nato-critic-seen-winning-romanian-presidential-runoff-vote-2024-12-04/